David Thiselton

The Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas to be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday is the focus of SA Racing fans at present and the question is being asked whether the Highveld form or the Cape form will emerge on top.

The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Equus Champion colt Jan Van Goyen is the only representative of the Highveld, but he represents the form of the horse many view as the best three-year-old in the country, Trust, who has a devastating turn of foot and he used it to beat Jan Van Goyen in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans.

Jan Van Goyen arrived in Cape Town on Wednesday and hopefully he travelled well, which is not a given especially with there currently apparently being a lot of roadwork delays. The Dingaans did not pan out well for him as he was kept wide by Trust. It told late in the race as he was unable to match the latter’s late gear change and he also likely needed it as it was his first start since winning the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of July in easy and impressive fashion. Nevertheless, Jan Van Goyen showed a tremendous burst of speed in the Dingaans and this will stand him in good stead in Saturday’s race from a great draw of four. He will have come on from the run and will be out to give the De Kock yard a sixth Cape Guineas victory.

Justin Snaith is going for a fourth Cape Guineas success and Happy Verse could be his best hope. This horse has always oozed class but has not always had the best of luck. He should be cherry ripe to deliver and should be turning it on in the straight.

Gimmie Rules also has a fine turn of foot as he displayed last time when toying with older rivals despite coming around them from last on the Old Course. This full brother to Gimme A Prince and The Real Prince possesses speed and class and should pass his acid test. He will be out to give Dean Kannemeyer a seventh Cape Guineas success and the Kannemeyer yard a tenth as Dean’s father Peter won it three times.

Good For You is a Gr 1 winner over 1200m but showed last time he gets this trip when winning the Gr 2 Race Coast Cape Punters Cup over 1600m. Some say he was lucky to keep the race as he caused interference late, but he was giving the rest of the field 2kg , so should beat them again. Against him is his wide draw, as opposed to draw two in the Punters Cup, and it won’t be easy to get into his front-running or handy position from there.

Vapour Trail will be out to give Vaughan Marshall a seventh Cape Guineas success and he will be out to repeat the feat of his half-brother One Stripe, who won it last year. He is not as good as One Stripe, but is on the up and can prove the mile is no problem for him.

Randolph Hearst was the narrow runner up in the Punters Cup when running on strongly and he could be a contender here as he is improving.

Aristocratic never really saw daylight in the Punters Cup and was beaten 3,35 lengths but he has given the impression that if having the room to unwind he could produce a powerful finish, so he can’t be ignored from draw six with the good tactician Muzi Yeni up.

Roland Garros has beaten Randolph Hearst over 1500m before and is not out of it under Andrew Fortune, although he has a tricky draw of nine.

Beware is well out at the weights but has caught the eye as one capable of making the step up to this class, but he does have a tough draw.

Star Major is held in good regard and was not disgraced in the Punters Cup, beaten 2,45 lengths into fifth, but he has a tricky draw again.

Pay The Palace plugged on into third in the Punters Cup and could earn again.

Absolutely Yes could be dangerous from a good draw as he is effective when things go his way in the front.

Aversator looks held but could help ensure a good pace.

Malmesbury Missile disappointed last time over 1200m and does look well held by Jan Van Goyen, but he is drawn in pole and has the ability to earn a cheque.

Fox On The Run is well regarded and can do better than he did in the Punters Cup, but he does have the widest draw of all.

Jan Van Goyen faces a tough task, considering the Dingaans was just two weeks ago, but he looks to possess a tremendous amount of class and he is taken to beat Happy Verse with Gimmie Rules, Good For You and Vapour Trail next best.

Warren Lenferna

The Woodruff Racing Syndicate Class 2 over 1500m provided a thrilling finish at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday, where 33/1 outsider Ardabil got up in the shadow of the post to snatch victory from the more fancied Legal Counsel. Both horses are trained out of Justin Snaith’s Philippi barn, with the winner ridden by the extremely talented Nicola Yuen and the runner-up by Callan Murray.

In her post-race interview with on-course Race Coast presenter Grant Knowles, Yuen mentioned that Ardabil is an “extremely tough horse” who travelled very well all the way to the line — a gutsy and impressive performance.

The front few were strung out one behind the other, with Captain West setting his own fractions out in front under Keagan de Melo. Legal Counsel enjoyed a dream run in second and, when Murray produced him, it looked all over bar the shouting. But Yuen had other ideas, lifting Ardabil late to grab first prize. Captain West stayed on for third, and Gallic Dream finished fourth, having kicked on menacingly along the inside rail.

There were two other victories worth highlighting on the day. The first was Cassandra in the third race, from the bang-in-form Glen Kotzen yard, who was given an exceptionally strong and well-timed ride by Richard Fourie. He got this daughter of Act Of War to slice through the field and lift herself off the canvas to win by a head. An impressive win, an impressive ride, and a filly who looks set to go on and win races. She looked unlikely to finish in the first four early in the straight but delivered in no uncertain terms, treating punters to a grandstand finish. The race was a Maiden Plate for fillies over 1600m.

Demanding Dave captured the seventh race, a Middle Stakes for speedsters over 1000m, and this son of Horizon added to Andrew Fortune’s growing tally of winners for the afternoon. Fortune had a tip-top day, and his post-race interviews remain an entertaining treat. Demanding Dave is trained off the beach at Noordhoek by Mike Stewart, and the gelding’s connections have long maintained that he has real ability and is a proper sprinter. They are being proven right: he raced off a merit rating of 94 yesterday and is now a three-time winner from only eight starts.

RACE 1

2 KORCULA 3 MATTER OF TRUST 4 CHICKASAW 11 LIEFLING

Preview: 2 KORCULA is improving and with inform Lerena up should be right there. 3 MATTER OF TRUST disappointed last time when well beaten by Korcula but on earlier form could earn. 4 CHICKASAW ran well last time over 1800m and had some fair Cape Town form so should be in the shake up. 11 LIEFLING improved when stepped up in trip second time out and should relish this further step up in trip. (David Thiselton 2-3-4-11)

RACE 2

7 AGOGE 1 MILAN’S WORLD 4 DISTRICT ATTORNEY 10 LANCE ALOT

Preview: 7 AGOGE made a fine debut and is the one to beat with expected improvement. 1 MILAN’S WORLD has been knocking on the door and from pole position over a trip which should suit he has a chance. 4 DISTRICT ATTORNEY comes from some fair formlines and could earn. 10 LANCE ALOT is capable of improving over this trip. (David Thiselton 7-1-4-10)

RACE 3

1 SKY PILLAR ROCK 2 HOPSCOTCH 5 COMMANDER OF ALL 6 BOB LEE SWAGGER

Preview: 1 SKY PILLAR ROCK is consistent and will relish this step back up in trip. 2 HOPSCOTCH bounced back last time and is a contender with a repeat. 5 COMMANDER OF ALL won well last time and his four point raise is alleviated by a 2,5kg claimer now being up. 6 BOB LEE SWAGGER is capable of better than his latest and from a good draw he can’t be ignored. (David Thiselton 1-2-5-6)

RACE 4

4 BEYNAC 3 CHESTNUT BOMBER 7 JORDAN 9 FLASHY APACHE

Preview: 4 BEYNAC beat Chestnut Bomber last time and is now better off with him at the weights. 3 CHESTNUT BOMBER is capable of staying on well and is coming into his own again. 7 JORDAN will enjoy this trip and can be involved if at his best. 9 FLASHY APACHE can earn if repeating his last start. (David Thiselton 4-3-7-9)

RACE 5

1 BUFFALO STORM CODY 2 WILLIAM ROBERTSON 4 TAXI TO THE MOON 7 KARATE KID

Preview: 1 BUFFALO STORM CODY is a top class sprinter who is getting better and better and will take a power of beating. 2 WILLIAM ROBERTSON has the class to be a runner here and should be cherry ripe in his third run after a layoff. 4 TAXI TO THE MOON ran a cracker last time in a Listed race and can earn with a repeat. 7 KARATE KID has plenty of ability and can run on into the places. (1-2-4-7)

RACE 6

3 ARGO ALLEY 1 TEXAS RED 2 MUSICAL SCORE 7 THAT’S MY BABY

Preview: 3 ARGO ALLEY is distance suited and well drawn and can do well with a nice galloping weight. 1 TEXAS RED is distance suited too and will go close if repeating his last start. 2 MUSICAL SCORE has talent and should progress this season. 7 THAT’S MY BABY seems to reserve her best for Hollywoodbets Greyville but was not disgraced last time and can earn with a repeat. (3-1-2-7)

RACE 7

4 MASTERSHIP 9 DYLAN’S CHAMP 6 PALACE PRINCE 7 CARE FORGOT

Preview: 4 MASTERSHIP is talented and from pole position will be a big runner. 9 DYLAN’S CHAMP won well last time and has a chance with a repeat. 6 PALACE PRINCE ran a cracker last time and 7 CARE FORGOT has the class to be a contender if bouncing back. (David Thiselton 4-9-6-7)

RACE 8

6 STREISAND 4 GERBERA 2 BAKWENA 1 DOITWITHDIAMONDS

Preview: 6 STREISAND is progressive and should make a bold bid from a fair draw. 4 GERBERA can go close if producing her best. 2 BAKWENA ran a cracker last time the form was franked in no uncertain terms by Mocha Blend winning the Summer Cup. 1 DOITWITHDIAMONDS has a chance of earning here if producing her best. (David Thiselton 6-4-2-1)

RACE 9

3 RINGA RINGA ROSES 6 GRACE’S KISS 7 OPERA FAN 8 THE MIGHTIEST

Preview: 3 RINGA RINGA ROSES is in fine form and can progress again over a step up in trip that will suit. 6 GRACE’S KISS can get closer to Ringa Ringa Roses and should also handle the step up in trip. 7 OPERA FAN split the former pair last time and should be involved again. 8 THE MIGHTIEST is capable of earning here from a plum draw. (David Thiselton 3-6-7-8)

RACE 10

10 VAVA VEGAS 5 SHEETS AND GOGGLES 3 MICHAEL FARADAY 1 GUERILLA WARFARE

Preview: 10 VAVA VEGAS is knocking on the door and has a good opportunity here although the draw makes it tough. 5 SHEETS AND GOGGLES has a good draw and is capable of a lot better than her last three runs. 3 MICHAEL FARADAY has the ability to win this from a good draw with Lerena up, although he is none too reliable. 1 GUERILLA WARFARE can earn if producing his best. (David Thiselton 10-5-3-1)

South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Kempton and Hexham (UK) – 10 December 2025.

David Thiselton

Tienie Prinsloo has said Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas heroine Quickstepgal would not be considered for the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and would be coming home to Summerveld. Her future program would be decided from there.

Tienie recalled going to the KZN Yearling Sale venue last year to inspect the horses and starting on Lot 1, but after inspecting Lot 5 he said to his wife, “Let’s turn around and go home. She said, ‘Why?’, I said I’ve found my horse.”

Lot 5 was the Vercingetorix filly Quickstepgal, bred by Marsh Shirtliff’s Greenacres Trust, and she was destined to give him his first Gr 1 win.

He recalled going back to the Sale ground the next day and looking at a few more horses, while  noticing nobody else was looking at Lot 5.

He said, “I took Rakesh Singh to look at her and said to him, ‘Rakesh this is the horse you must buy for me, please.’ He said, ‘You want her I am going to buy her for you, it doesn’t matter what she goes for.’ We sat together for the bidding and he just kept on putting his hand up and we got her.”

The price of R450,000 is a lot before a horse has raced, but she soon proved to be a bargain and Rakesh would have profited handsomely when selling her in training to prolific owners, the Laurence Wernars family and Harry Wilsson.

Tienie is still feeling on top of the world after Saturday’s big win.

He said, “It still feels like my heart is sitting outside my body, it is still not totally there yet.  But just to stand on that podium, where you have won a Gr 1 and Laurence Wernars is looking at you and then you start getting that something in your throat like you want to cry. It is just unbelievable, I can’t even describe how nice it is. A normal winner is nice, but to have a winner for big owners like them and it is a Gr 1 and you standing there waiting to go on the stage, it touches you. You overflow with happiness, it is just  amazing and then everybody just comes to you and says, ‘Well done, well done, well done,’ I mean even Eric Sands had tears in his eyes and I could see too that Laurence was emotional. It meant a lot to him. It was a nice day. Very nice.”

Many would have liked to have trained Quickstepgal but Laurence was adamant that the filly would stay with the small yard of Tienie Prinsloo and the latter has proved it to be not just a gentlemanly decision but a beneficial one for the owners too.

Tienie revealed that Quickstepgal had endured a tough journey down from KZN, which made her run in the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, where she finished a 1,75 length fourth, most commendable.

He said, “With all the roadworks she spent 36-and-a-half hours on the float. It took a lot out of her and she was very tired. She almost didn’t want to eat. She was nibbling here and there but we thought we are going to have to go for the Gr 2, because she must see the track. Gavin was not hard on her and I think just gave her one smack in the last 100m and she just stayed on. She was slowly running at them. She had lost 25kg before that race from the journey down and she gained about 13 to 14kg after that race. She regained her weight and she looked so much more happy.”

Tienie had nothing but high praise for caretaker trainer Eric Sands.

He said, “We left her there with Eric. What a great horseman. I couldn’t be more happy for Eric to help me, he is a master of note. He is an unbelievable guy. He has become one of my best friends. He will always be in my good books. He is a guy who will help you with anything and he won’t even blink an eyelid. He looked after her very well. We went down there and I looked at her and I said to Eric ‘Gee whiz this filly is looking very well, hey’.”

He continued, “And she won the race. Once she turned for home and she quickened I said to my wife, ‘Listen here, I don’t think they will catch her.’ Richard came up to her and Eric’s other horse Stormwatch came on the inside. That was 300m out but we just kept on rolling to win the race. She won a very, very nice race.”

Tienie said he had left the tactics to Gavin Lerena and praised him for fine ride and a clever one.

Lerena wanted the filly to use her fine action so was happy to dictate and she was always going to be a hard one to catch once she had relaxed in front.

Tienie and Gavin go back a long way and he remembered him once phoning him when he was training in Kimberley and said, “Tienie I need some winners to win the championship and I said, ‘Come down.'”

On Saturday Gavin leant off his horse as he was being led in and gave Tienie a hug and said, “I am so happy for you.”

The winning trainer described that as the most special moment of all coming from a man he described as the finest of gentleman.

Tienie did reserve some praise for himself too.

He said, “I don’t want to race her too much. She is a special filly. I would rather go for the races which are perfect for her than taking on the big guns, because she is still a three-year-old. She doesn’t have anything to prove anymore. She’s very lighly raced, eight runs for five wins and two places. I really think I have planned it very nicely for her.”

He is going to stick to 1400m to a mile for her for the time being.

Tienie reserved the last word for his wife and was amazed and grateful by how she had been able to stand by him through all of the many pressurised times that happen in the toughest of professions, training racehorses.